The canton of Fribourg announces the selection of the first project resulting from the Call for Collaborative Projects (APC) launched as part of the New Regional Policy (NRP). This call, dedicated to the optimisation of supply chains and low-carbon logistics, aims to stimulate the creation of innovative and sustainable solutions within the Fribourg economic fabric.

At the end of the call, which was marked by a high level of participation, the H2TICE (Hydrogen Truck Internal Combustion Engine) project, led by the HEIA-FR and an industrial consortium, was selected for NPR funding of 290,000 francs. It aims to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen retrofit of heavy-duty trucks, by transforming an existing diesel vehicle into a truck running on a hydrogen combustion engine (H2-ICE). This solution allows for rapid and affordable decarbonization, extending the life of vehicles that are still fully operational while drastically reducing their emissions.

A thematic call that mobilised the Fribourg ecosystem

Launched for the first time in thematic form, the NPR 2025 call aroused strong interest: five project sketches were submitted, covering a range of themes from the intelligent optimisation of logistics flows to the valuation of carbon commitments. A total of 19 companies, including 13 from Fribourg, participated in this collective innovation dynamic.

The projects were accompanied in their maturation by the technology and innovation platform INNOSQUARE, which supported the structuring of the consortia and the development of the sketches before their evaluation by its Executive Committee. On this basis, only one initiative was selected to develop an official request for NPR funding: the H2TICE project, which stood out for its potential for impact, its feasibility and its ability to federate a coherent ecosystem.

A regional hydrogen sector under construction

The H2TICE project brings together industrial and academic partners with complementary skills: HEIA-FR (SeSi Institute), Kolly Management SA, Zbinden Posieux SA, GreenGT SA, New Generation Tanks SA and Gruyère Hydrogen Power SA. Together, they are developing a demonstrator covering the entire value chain: engine, vehicle integration, hydrogen storage, safety, refueling and energy optimization.

This collaboration is part of an ambitious territorial dynamic, intended to support the development of hydrogen-related initiatives in the canton, in line with the cantonal guidelines in terms of carbon neutrality, energy resilience and local value creation.

Innovation for cleaner logistics

The H technology2-ICE offers a pragmatic and fast alternative to battery or fuel cell electric solutions: it allows the use of existing vehicles, reduces investment costs and relies on a rapidly developing regional green hydrogen infrastructure. The expected results include the demonstration in real conditions of a retrofitted truck, the energy and economic evaluation of the solution, as well as the preparation of a reproducible industrialization model within the partner companies.

An NPR instrument that confirms its relevance

With this first thematic call, NPR is strengthening its role as a catalyst for innovation. The projects submitted show a strong interest from Fribourg companies in the transformation of their value chains, supported by digital technologies, collaborative approaches and sustainability imperatives.

Other thematic calls are planned in the coming years, in order to continue this dynamic of industrial cooperation and to stimulate the emergence of solutions that meet the economic and environmental challenges of the canton.

Source: HydrogenInsight